spade

Note: This page may contain terms or definitions that are offensive or inappropriate for some readers.

spade¹

S0599500 (spād)n.1. A sturdy digging tool having a thick handle and a heavy, flat blade that can be pressed into the ground with the foot.2. Any of various similar digging or cutting tools.tr.v. spad·ed, spad·ing, spades To dig or cut with a spade.Idiom: call a spade a spade To speak plainly and forthrightly.

[Middle English, from Old English spadu.]

spad′er n.

spade²

S0599500 (spād)n.1. Games a. A black, leaf-shaped figure on certain playing cards.b. A playing card with this figure.c. also spades(used with a sing. or pl. verb) The suit of cards represented by this figure.2. Offensive Slang Used as a disparaging term for a black person.Idiom: in spades To a considerable degree: They had financial trouble in spades.

[Italian spade, pl. of spada, card suit, from Latin spatha, sword, broad-bladed stirrer, from Greek spathē, broad blade.]

spade

(speɪd) n1. (Tools) a tool for digging, typically consisting of a flat rectangular steel blade attached to a long wooden handle2. (Tools) a. an object or part resembling a spade in shapeb. (as modifier): a spade beard. 3. (Firearms, Gunnery, Ordnance & Artillery) a heavy metallic projection attached to the trail of a gun carriage that embeds itself into the ground and so reduces recoil4. (Rowing) a type of oar blade that is comparatively broad and short. Compare spoon⁶5. (Tools) a cutting tool for stripping the blubber from a whale or skin from a carcass6. call a spade a spade to speak plainly and franklyvb (tr) to use a spade on[Old English spadu; related to Old Norse spathi, Old High German spato, Greek spathē blade] ˈspader n

spade

(speɪd) n1. (Card Games) a. the black symbol on a playing card resembling a heart-shaped leaf with a stemb. a card with one or more of these symbols or (when pl) the suit of cards so marked, usually the highest ranking of the four2. (Peoples) a derogatory word for Black3. in spades informal in an extreme or emphatic way[C16: from Italian spada sword, used as an emblem on playing cards, from Latin spatha, from Greek spathē blade, broadsword]

spade¹

(speɪd)

n., v. spad•ed, spad•ing. n. 1. a tool for digging, typically having a long handle and a narrow, flat metal blade that can be pressed into the ground with the foot. 2. an implement or part resembling this. v.t. 3. to dig, cut, or remove with a spade. Idioms: call a spade a spade, to speak plainly and bluntly. [before 900; Middle English (n.); Old English spadu, c. Old Frisian spada, Old Saxon spado] spad′er, n.

spade²

(speɪd)

n. 1. a black figure shaped like an inverted heart with a short stem at the cusp opposite the point, used on playing cards. 2. a card of the suit bearing such figures. 3. spades, a. (used with a sing. or pl. v.) the suit so marked. b. (used with a pl. v.) (in casino) the winning of seven spades or more. 4. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. (a contemptuous term used to refer to a black person.) Idioms: in spades, Informal. a. in the extreme; to the utmost. b. without restraint. [1590–1600; < Italian, pl. of spada orig., sword < Latin spatha < Greek spáthē; compare spade¹] usage: Definition 4 is a slur and should be avoided. It is used with disparaging intent and is perceived as highly insulting.

spade

Past participle: spaded
Gerund: spading

Imperative
spade
spade

Present
I spade
you spade
he/she/it spades
we spade
you spade
they spade

Preterite
I spaded
you spaded
he/she/it spaded
we spaded
you spaded
they spaded

Present Continuous
I am spading
you are spading
he/she/it is spading
we are spading
you are spading
they are spading

Present Perfect
I have spaded
you have spaded
he/she/it has spaded
we have spaded
you have spaded
they have spaded

Past Continuous
I was spading
you were spading
he/she/it was spading
we were spading
you were spading
they were spading

Past Perfect
I had spaded
you had spaded
he/she/it had spaded
we had spaded
you had spaded
they had spaded

Future
I will spade
you will spade
he/she/it will spade
we will spade
you will spade
they will spade

Future Perfect
I will have spaded
you will have spaded
he/she/it will have spaded
we will have spaded
you will have spaded
they will have spaded

Future Continuous
I will be spading
you will be spading
he/she/it will be spading
we will be spading
you will be spading
they will be spading

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been spading
you have been spading
he/she/it has been spading
we have been spading
you have been spading
they have been spading

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been spading
you will have been spading
he/she/it will have been spading
we will have been spading
you will have been spading
they will have been spading

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been spading
you had been spading
he/she/it had been spading
we had been spading
you had been spading
they had been spading

Conditional
I would spade
you would spade
he/she/it would spade
we would spade
you would spade
they would spade

Past Conditional
I would have spaded
you would have spaded
he/she/it would have spaded
we would have spaded
you would have spaded
they would have spaded

Spade

Another name for the Bull tongue, a cultivator plow point shaped somewhat like a tongue.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	spade - a playing card in the major suit that has one or more black figures on it; "she led a low spade"; "spades were trumps"major suit - (bridge) a suit of superior scoring value, either spades or heartsplaying card - one of a pack of cards that are used to play card games
	2.	spade - a sturdy hand shovel that can be pushed into the earth with the footditch spade, long-handled spade - a spade with a long handle for digging narrow ditchesgarden spade - a spade used by gardenershand shovel - a shovel that is operated by hand
	3.	spade - (ethnic slur) extremely offensive name for a Black personjigaboo, nigger, nigra, coonderogation, disparagement, depreciation - a communication that belittles somebody or somethingethnic slur - a slur on someone's race or languageBlack person, blackamoor, Negro, Negroid, Black - a person with dark skin who comes from Africa (or whose ancestors came from Africa)
Verb	1.	spade - dig (up) with a spade; "I spade compost into the flower beds"cut into, delve, dig, turn over - turn up, loosen, or remove earth; "Dig we must"; "turn over the soil for aeration"ridge - spade into alternate ridges and troughs; "ridge the soil"

spade

verbTo break, turn over, or remove (earth or sand, for example) with or as if with a tool:delve, dig, excavate, grub, scoop, shovel.

Translations

铁锹铲黑桃牌

spade¹

(speid) noun a tool with a broad blade and a handle, used for digging. 铲

spade²

(speid) noun one of the playing-cards of the suit spades. （一张）黑桃牌 spades noun plural (sometimes treated as noun singular) one of the four card suits. the ten of spades. 一副黑桃（牌）

spade

→ 铁锹zhCN

spade

Note: This page may contain terms or definitions that are offensive or inappropriate for some readers.

do the spadework

To do the necessary preparatory work or research to successfully complete a given task or objective. Likened to working the soil with a spade when preparing to plant something. If you are looking to start your own business, you have to be sure to do the spadework first. I was up all night doing the spadework for my first case as a lawyer.

(as) black as the ace of spades

Completely black; totally without light or color. ("Spades" is a black suit in a deck of cards.) The basement gives me the creeps, it's as black as the ace of spades down there!See also: ace, black, of, spade

call a spade a spade

To address or describe the true nature of someone or something, even if it is unpleasant. The term originated from a translation of an ancient Greek phrase, but is considered offensive by some due to the later use of the word "spade" as a racial slur for a black person. I know you like Jason, but he's a jerk! I'm sorry, but I have to call a spade a spade. You have to call a spade a spade and acknowledge the corruption built into this system!See also: call, spade

(as) cocky as the king of spades

Conceited or haughty. Don't invite Joe to lunch unless you want to hear him brag about all the important things he's doing in his new job. He's just as cocky as the king of spades lately.See also: cocky, king, of, spade

in spades

In large quantity or to an extreme degree. A con artist needs charm, and she had it in spades. This campaign has had drama in spades, but not much discussion of the issues.See also: spade

spade up

To dig up and turn over soil or some body of soil with or as with a spade. A noun or pronoun can be used between "spade" and "up." You'll want to spade up the flower bed and mix in some fresh compost before sowing the new seeds. The ground was so full of stones and weeds that spading the soil up was an absolute chore.See also: spade, up

*black as a skillet

and *black as a stack of black cats; *black as a sweep; *black as coal; *black as night; *black as pitch; *black as the ace of spadescompletely dark or black. (*Also: as ~.) I don't want to go down to the cellar. It's as black as a skillet down there. Her hair was black as a stack of black cats. After playing in the mud all morning, the children were as black as night. The stranger's clothes were all black as pitch.See also: black, skillet

call a spade a spade

Fig. to call something by its right name; to speak frankly about something, even if it is unpleasant. (Considered offensive by some. Use only with discretion.) Well, I believe it's time to call a spade a spade. We are just avoiding the issue. Let's call a spade a spade. The man is a liar.See also: call, spade

*cocky as the king of spades

boastful; overly proud. (*Also: as ~.) He'd challenge anyone to a fight. He's as cocky as the king of spades. She strutted in, cocky as the king of spades.See also: cocky, king, of, spade

in spades

in the best or most extreme way possible; extravagantly. He flunked the test in spades. He succeeded at life in spades—honors degree, great career, rich wife, lovely children, and early retirement.See also: spade

spade something up

to turn over the soil in a garden plot with a spade. Please go out and spade the garden up so I can plant the potatoes and onions. I will spade up the garden when I have time.See also: spade, up

call a spade a spade

Speak frankly and bluntly, be explicit, as in You can always trust Mary to call a spade a spade. This term comes from a Greek saying, call a bowl a bowl, that was mistranslated into Latin by Erasmus and came into English in the 1500s. Also see tell it like it is. See also: call, spade

do the spadework

Make the preliminary preparations or do the preliminary research for something. For example, The department head did all the spadework for this agreement. This expression transfers the heavy spading required to prepare for planting to other kinds of preparation. [c. 1900]

in spades

Considerably, in the extreme; also, without restraint. For example, They were having money problems, in spades, or Jan told him what he really thought of him, in spades. This expression alludes to spades as the highest-ranking suit in various card games, such as bridge, and transfers "highest" to other extremes. [Colloquial; 1920s] See also: spade

call a spade a spade

If you call a spade a spade, you speak honestly and directly about a subject even if it offends people. In the meantime, Whyte is emerging as an outspoken voice who is willing to call a spade a spade. I'm not at all secretive, and I'm pretty good at calling a spade a spade. Note: You can also say that someone calls a spade a shovel when they speak extremely honestly and directly. He is never afraid to call a spade a shovel — and that is why he has universal respect in the game. Note: In a play by the Ancient Greek dramatist Menander, one of the characters says `I call a fig a fig, and a spade a spade'. See also: call, spade

in spades

COMMON1. If you have something in spades, you have a lot of it. The job required determination and ambition — and she had both qualities in spades.2. If something happens in spades, it happens to a great degree. All this effort has paid off in spades.See also: spade

call a spade a spade

speak plainly or bluntly, without avoiding issues which are unpleasant or embarrassing. A variation on this phrase, dating from the early 20th century and used for humorous emphasis, is call a spade a shovel . 1998 Spectator A man whom I might not agree with where politics are concerned, but one who calls a spade a spade. See also: call, spade

in spades

to a very high degree; as much as or more than could be desired. informal This expression derives from the fact that spades are the highest-ranking suit in the card game bridge. 1996 Time Out Wit, vitality, heart, story-telling flair: the movie has each in spades. See also: spade

call a ˌspade a ˈspade

speak openly and directly about something unpleasant: I believe in calling a spade a spade. When a patient’s going to die, I say so. Most people prefer to know the truth. OPPOSITE: beat about the bushSee also: call, spade

in ˈspades

(informal) in large amounts or to a great degree: He’d got his revenge now, and in spades. Spades are one of the four kinds of playing cards. They are the highest cards in the game of bridge.See also: spade

in spades

mod. in the best way possible; extravagantly. He flunked the test in spades. See also: spade

call a spade a spade

To speak plainly and forthrightly.See also: call, spade

in spades

To a considerable degree: They had financial trouble in spades.See also: spade

black as night/pitch/the ace of spades

Very dark indeed. To these overused similes one can add ink (Spenser, Shakespeare), the crow or raven (Petronius, Chaucer), soot (John Ray’s proverbs, 1678), ebony (Shakespeare), and coal (Chaucer). The comparison to night (and also midnight) was more common in the nineteenth century, although Milton also used it (Paradise Lost), whereas black as pitch dates from Homer’s time (Iliad).See also: ace, black, night, of, pitch, spade

call a spade a spade, to

To speak frankly and bluntly, to be quite explicit. The term dates from the sixteenth century, but may go back even to Greek and Roman times. One translation of Cicero’s Ad Familiares reads, “Here is your Stoic disquisition . . . ‘the wise man will call a spade a spade.’”There are numerous repetitions throughout the 1500s, such as John Taverner’s (“Whiche call . . . a mattok nothing els but a mattok, and a spade a spade,” Garden of Wysdome, 1539), and later uses by Ben Jonson, Robert Burton, Jonathan Swift, Charles Dickens, and Mark Twain, among others. A cliché since the nineteenth century, it acquired a more sinister meaning when spade became an offensive slang word for a black person.See also: call, spade

spade

spade 1

spade 2

spade

spade

spade1

spade2

spade

Spade

spade

spade1

spade2

spade

spade

do the spadework

(as) black as the ace of spades

call a spade a spade

(as) cocky as the king of spades

in spades

spade up

*black as a skillet

call a spade a spade

*cocky as the king of spades

in spades

spade something up

call a spade a spade

do the spadework

in spades

call a spade a spade

in spades

call a spade a spade

in spades

call a ˌspade a ˈspade

in ˈspades

in spades

call a spade a spade

in spades

black as night/pitch/the ace of spades

call a spade a spade, to

spade

spade

spade

spade

spade

SPADE

SPADE

spade

Synonyms for spade

verb to break, turn over, or remove (earth or sand, for example) with or as if with a tool

Synonyms

Synonyms for spade

noun a playing card in the major suit that has one or more black figures on it

Related Words

noun a sturdy hand shovel that can be pushed into the earth with the foot

Related Words

noun (ethnic slur) extremely offensive name for a Black person

Synonyms

Related Words

verb dig (up) with a spade

Related Words

spade¹

spade²

spade¹

spade²

spade¹

spade²